Last Saturday Frank wasn’t able to join the group’s ride. This seemed odd as the whole week we have been talking via Yahoo! Messenger and he’s been excited to ride.

Nearing the end of the ride, around 10 A.M. I get a text message from him. Seems like he just woke up. He was blaming not riding on a headache. I was suspecting a hangover.

Anyway we made plans to ride the next day so a few text blasts were sent informing the others of the Sunday ride.

Come Sunday Zaldy had a hangover. Our text messages were ignored. So Frank and I proceeded to the Daang Hari Police Outpost to see if any of the Backout Boys were there for the Sunday ride.

Approaching the police outpost I saw a whole assortment of bikers, from roadies to the different disciples of mountain biking (cross-country riders, downhillers, freeriders, etc.) and I recognize a tall rider sitting on the curb with his Titus Motolite parked beside him. Chris.

“Good morning! Been waiting long?”

“Not really. Who else is coming?”

“I don’t know but Zaldy has a hangover…”

“Why didn’t you ride yesterday, Frank?”

“HE had a hangover,” I said. Laughter all around.

Chris informed us he had plans with Ramil to ride today, so we wait. Then I get a text message from Zaldy asking about riding today and if he can still catch up, will we wait for him, he asks. I responded telling him to move fast and we’ll wait. After less than 3 minutes I get another SMS from Zaldy. Ramil was on his way to Zaldy’s… with no advice to Chris. Ha ha! Nice one, Ramil.

While we were waiting the Gran Trail boys and Tony arrive. Hi-hello’s again, and we decided to take-off.

We take our normal route in the Malipay trails, with little rests. As the others haven’t successfully crossed one section yet we decided to session the obstacle.

It was a stair-like downhill portion that climbs abruptly upon reaching the bottom. On the first section of the climb is a short and relatively deep rut (pedals/cranks will hit if you pedal up), and a mound at the end of this rut which will force your front tire to jump if you don’t shift your weight in front at the right moment.

After they’re satisfied (for the moment) we continue on. As it was still early we decided to continue on to the Tubuhan trail, a fireroad that goes through bamboo fields, then turns to single tracks.

On the junction before turning to Tubuhan we see the Gran Trail boys resting, with Eugene and Daniel, the father-son team. They decided to join us and meet with their riding buddies later on. They rode with us the day before (Saturday) and since the GT boys were going to where we rode Eugene opted to join us… besides, we’ll be doing the part of the loop that goes back to the trailhead/exit. He he. Talk about style. Right, Eugene?

So off we go with Daniel leading. As I was recovering Frank overtook me and held Daniel’s rear wheel, then I noticed them gradually pedaling faster and trail blazing. I noticed it quite late so the gap was quite big. I was only able to maintain the gap. Then they turned right into the track going straight to the tamarind tree. WTF?

“FRANK!” I shouted. “FRANK! Why not here?!” I continue to shout, calling both of them to turn back and follow me left and down near the river following the track that will turn right and lead me to a narrow, single-track climb that ends in the same tamarind tree where we take our rests.

They didn’t follow, but I heard sounds behind me letting me know someone followed me down. Tony? Eugene? Chris for sure.

As I approach the climb I shifted too late causing my chain to drop out of my chainrings. Damn. While returning the chain Tony and Chris came up behind me.

Chris then told us he’ll take the trail on the left instead of climbing up as he had to be home by 10 A.M. It was already 9 A.M. and he calculated he’ll be home on time if he took that trail that will lead him to Molino Road. So we said our good-bye’s, take care’s and off Tony and I went to climb and meet the others.

When I got to the tamarind tree I asked them why they took that route they took. They said they did the same climb I just did, even showing me their chains on the smallest cog. “Yeah, right. I saw you, I was behind you guys all the way until that turn,” and they laugh. They know they were busted.

So after a few minutes of resting and sampling Frank’s trail food (mixed nuts) we decided to continue on back to Malipay and rest at a local sari-sari store where they offer cold soft drinks.

More single tracks are passed through, with a lot of branches jutting out, left by the local woodcutters who kill the environment, then we reach the river. Hike-a-bike. I hate this. We go boulder-hopping while we carry our bikes and saddle up to attack this sweet, twisty, single track climb. After this was easy riding to the store.

We rested for quite a long time at the store. Taking in sugar from the soft drinks, jokes and serious conversations were flying around. Once fully rested with my stomach feeling heavy from the soft drinks I decided one last hurrah for the day’s ride.

So instead of following the fireroad out I turned left and led them to more single track with a not-so-steep downhill portion with another abrupt climb. Daniel, who was behind me, liked it — it was hid first time in that section. As Tony came up Daniel told him I was crazy as I had them go through that after expecting some flat and easy riding on our way out of Malipay. I can only laugh.

Once back on the road we find out it was still early. 10 A.M. I told Frank we still have time for 1 lap around the National Bilibid Prisons (NBP) track.

“Yeah, my wife will scold me if I come home early,” Frank says. I cracked up.

So we call back to the others letting them know we won’t be stopping at the police outpost. We’ll continue on to the NBP tracks. We heard reactions from both Eugene and Daniel.

Turning right into the NBP compound gate I look back to see who will follow. I see Frank. I slow down while we wait for the others. Then Frank tells me they decided to bail out. So it’s just the 2 of us.

Checking to see if the road was clear we shoot down to the deep NBP track entry. Go, go, go. We pedal fast. We pedal hard. No need for looking back. This is where we used to train.

Then we stop. Dismount. Only crazy people go down this snake-like downhill portion to the creek. The track dips abruptly and makes a sharp right turn. Wrong brake timing will bring you intimately close to the tree watching over the creek. Intimate like how you want to be with the girl you love… or the girl you lust over. But in a painful way.

So we walk down. After seeing the gooey moss below the water. With how tall I am I need to jump just to cross this. The riverbed is too soft to ride on. So we look for rocks to be used as stepping stones when crossing.

Then comes another winding uphill climb. Yummy! I’ve always climbed this in granny. But I tried it in the mid-ring this time. I had to stand near the top but I was able to make it. Cool! After another similar but longer climb it was all easy riding. Easy riding for those who are familiar with the track, so again we pedal hard, we pedal fast.

After the last steep but short exit climb we take a very short rest by the side of the road. Happy, satisfied, hungry for more. But we didn’t have anywhere else to go that’s near. So it’s time to go home.

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